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Woman accused of driving wrong way on I-485 dies in Matthews crash, troopers say

MATTHEWS, N.C. — A woman accused of driving the wrong way on Interstate 485 died when she crashed in Matthews Tuesday morning, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Troopers said the crash happened just before 2:40 a.m. on the outer loop of I-485, where it crosses over East John Street. Investigators said a car and an SUV were involved in the crash.

According to highway patrol, a blue Acura sedan was driving in the wrong direction on the interstate when it collided head-on with a tan Cadillac SUV. The driver of the Acura, 27-year-old Kristen Makayla Vanderpool, died at the scene, troopers said.

The driver of the SUV was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

>> Check Channel 9′s LIVE Traffic Map for detours around the closure

All lanes of the outer loop were blocked while troopers investigated. The road reopened just before 6 a.m. Tuesday.

A Channel 9 crew at the scene could see first responders clearing shattered glass from the road as they worked to reopen the interstate.

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